Lake Orion running back Jacob Miller, seen here against Rochester earlier in the season, has developed into one of the most efficient running backs in the Metro Detroit area. (Jake Thielen for MLive.com)

More and more defenses are getting used to seeing the back of Jacob Miller's jersey as he runs past them. (Jake Thielen for MLive.com)

Before Friday night's Division 1 region final, everyone in the high school football community already knew who Jacob Miller was. Miller was a good running back on a good Lake Orion team that had a host of talented players.

While Lake Orion went on to dismantle a tough Macomb Dakota team, Miller showed that he wasn't just a good running back.

In fact, he's a great one.

Carrying the ball 27 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns against the Cougars, it is clear that Miller is not a beneficiary of a good team. In actuality, Miller often carries his team more than he carries a football.

"He's probably the most underrated back around," Lake Orion coach Chris Bell said. "There's not another back that we've played that I would rather have. He's the best one that I've seen. He's tremendous."

With other OAA running backs like Clarkston's Ian Eriksen and Oak Park's Malik Washington among those gaining a lot of attention this year, Miller has compliantly done the dirty work for Lake Orion all season. Called on to grind out yards while creating opportunities for some of the Dragons' speed specialists, Miller doesn't care where the spotlight falls.

But if Miller gets Lake Orion back to Ford Field for the second time in three years later this month, his days of being undercover will be over.

"Just the chance to get to Ford Field again - its a great experience," Miller said. "One more time would be great."

Miller was on the team as a sophomore the last time Lake Orion made it to Ford Field and won it all. However, Miller's role was limited to returning punts that year. Making it back as the team's starting running back is what Miller has been dreaming about.

"I learned from a lot of older players," Miller said. "They showed me the ropes as a sophomore. I just took all of the knowledge I could get from them. Over the years, the game (feels like it) has slowed down and the pace has slowed down - it just makes a little more sense after a few years up here on varsity."

Although Miller may not have been the fastest option at running back, he makes up for it with his quickness in other areas of the game. Seeing holes and getting to them right away gets Miller into the defensive secondary so quick that cornerbacks and safeties are often seen chasing him down the field.

"In the offseason, we fixed up a few things," Miller said. "We worked on hitting the whole harder and tighter."

The offseason work was clearly evident against Dakota, as Miller busted out of the backfield as if shot from a cannon for a 68-yard touchdown. It is obvious that Miller has added some raw speed as he reeled off a 69-yard run to the two yard line that set up another on of his touchdowns on the night.

With all of his positive attributes culminating at the right time, is Miller ready to make the final charge to Ford Field?

"At this point, yeah," Miller answered confidently.

But if there is one thing that hasn't changed about Miller since he first started out on special teams, it is grind-it-out attitude.

"He's always been a tough kid," Bell said. "Now that he knows the offense and he's learned how to play, he's one of the best around."